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Graphic Design

Before you read the text, try to answer the following questions. The pictures below may give you some ideas.

What is graphic design and what is its main purpose?

What arts and techniques does it use?

What are the most common uses of graphic design?

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1. Read the adapted text below and then do the tasks that follow.

Gateway t

o the w

orld

Gateway t

o the w

orld

of Graphic

Design

of Graphic

Design

Graphic design is the art and profession of selecting and arranging visual elements — such as typography, images, symbols and colours — to convey a message to an audience.

Sometimes graphic design is called “visual communications”, a term that emphasizes its function of giving form to information, e.g. in the design of a book, advertisement, logo or web site.

An important part of the designer’s task is to combine visual and verbal elements into an ordered and effective whole. Graphic design is therefore a collaborative discipline: writers produce words and photographers and illustrators create images that the designer

incorporates into a complete visual communication. Graphic designers create and combine symbols, images and text to form visual representations of ideas and messages. They use typography, visual arts, illustration and page layout techniques to create visual compositions.

Common uses of graphic design include corporate design (logos and branding), editorial design (magazines, newspapers and books), wayfinding or environmental design, advertising, web design, communication design, product packaging and signage.

http://www.britannica.com/art/graphic-design

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2. Read the text again and find the sentences that fit best as captions to the pictures below.

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3. Now read an adapted text about the history of graphic design and then, in pairs, do the tasks that follow.

The History of Graphic DesignThe History of Graphic Design

The evolution of graphic design as a practice and profession has been closely bound to technological innovations, societal needs and the visual imagination of practitioners. Examples of graphic design date back to manuscripts in ancient China, Egypt and Greece. As printing and book production developed in the 15th century, advances in graphic design developed alongside.

In the late 19th century, graphic design emerged as a distinct profession in the West as a result of job specialization, and of the new technologies and commercial possibilities brought about by the Industrial Revolution. New production methods

led to the separation of the design of a communication medium (e.g. a poster) from its actual production. Increasingly, over the course of the late 19th and early 20th centuries,

advertising agencies, book publishers and magazines hired art directors who organized all visual elements of the communication and brought them into a harmonious whole, creating an expression appropriate to the content. In 1922, typographer William A. Dwiggins used the term graphic design to identify the emerging field.

Throughout the 20th century, the technology available to designers continued to advance rapidly, as did the artistic and commercial possibilities for design. The profession expanded enormously, and graphic designers created, among other things, magazine pages, book jackets, posters, compact-disc covers, postage stamps, packaging, trademarks, signs, advertisements, kinetic titles for television programmes and motion pictures, and Web sites.

The invention and popularity of film and television changed graphic design through the additional aspect of motion as advertising

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agencies attempted to use kinetics to their advantage.

The next major change in graphic design came when the personal computer was invented in the 20th century. Powerful computer software enables artists to manipulate images in a much faster and simpler way than the skills of board artists prior to the 1990s. With quick calculations, computers easily recolour, scale, rotate, and rearrange images.

By the turn of the 21st century, graphic design had become a global profession, as advanced technology and industry spread throughout the world.

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4. Complete the following table noting down relevant key points from the text above.

Influences on the evolution of graphic design

Origins of graphic design

15th century developments that influenced graphic design evolution

19th century developments that influenced graphic design evolution

1922 Typographer W. A. Dwiggins first used the term graphic design

20th century expansion new fields and practices in graphic design

21st century Graphic design has become a global profession

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5. In groups, combine the information from the two reading texts above and make a poster to show the evolution and/or uses of Graphic Design. You can add drawings, pictures and any other information you consider necessary. Then, present your work to your classmates.

group work

Graphic Graphic Design: Design:

Evolution Evolution and Usesand Uses

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6. Match the words (1-10 ) with the definitions (A-J ).

1. _____ illustration 6. _____ signage

2. _____ logo 7. _____ manipulate (an image)

3. _____ evolution 8. _____ manuscript

4. _____ page layout 9. _____ book jacket

5. _____ corporate design 10. _____ rotate

A document written by hand or typed

B removable paper cover, usually illustrated, for protecting the binding of a book

C signs to give direction, warning, information etc

D a gradual process of change and development

E transform or modify it for some purpose

F turn in a circle, especially around a fixed point

G the official graphical design of the name of a company or institution used on envelopes, folders, brochures, etc.

H the way and process of setting out words, pictures etc on a page

I graphic mark, emblem or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition

J picture in a book, magazine etc

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7. Complete the blanks with the correct word.

1. graphic design / logo

a. An effective _______________ helps customers quickly identify a company’s products or services.

b. Web design has influenced ________________industry enormously.

2. packaging / labelling

a. ___________________ should be redesigned if it becomes outdated, for a more modern one.

b. One of the main purposes of _______________ is to protect and inform customers.

3. wayfinding / environmental graphics

a. ___________________ merges interior design, architecture and graphic design.

b. ___________________ systems, such as maps and directories, guide people through a physical environment.

4. corporate designer / editorial designer

a. A(n) ___________________ creates the visual identity for a company to be used in advertising and sponsorship programmes, promotional material and other forms of media.

b. A(n) ___________________ works on the layout and visual aesthetics of books, magazines and other publications.

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Passive VoicePassive Voice

8. The following sentences appear in the texts above. Read them carefully and answer the questions.

a. Sometimes graphic design is called “visual communications”, a term that emphasizes its function of giving form to information.

b. The evolution of graphic design as a practice and profession has been closely bound to technological innovations, societal needs, and the visual imagination of practitioners.

c. The next major change in graphic design came when the personal computer was invented in the twentieth century.

When do we use passive voice?

How does a passive sentence differ from an active one?

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Study the following tables to get some help.

FormationFormation

to beto be + past participlepast participle of the main verb

Transforming Active Voice into Passive Voice

ACTIVE

PASSIVE

subject

subject

verb

verb

object

agent (by)

the agent can be omitted when the subject is a relative pronoun / someone / somebody / people etc.

Coffee is produced in BrazilThe house was built in 1954

vsMona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci

The Tempest was written by Shakespeare

in passive questions with who / whom / which we cannot omit by

Who was the film ‘The Taxi Driver’ directed by?

in everyday English / informal speech we can use “to get” instead of “to be”

The Science project got finished at last!

two Passive sentences are possible for verbs with two objects (bring, promise, tell, sell, teach, give, etc.)

I was given a surprise present for my birthday.

orA surprise present was given to me

for my birthday.

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9. Study the newspaper headlines and do the following tasks:

a. Why is passive voice used in newspaper headlines?

b. Write the newspaper headlines in full sentences and then turn them into active voice.

1. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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2. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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3. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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4. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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10. Notice the use of passive voice in the following photographs.

Write similar instructions/orders/signs for your school.

11. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Creat ive D i rector

A number of disciplines (1) ______________ (encompass) in a Creative Director’s work, such as visual design, copywriting, art direction etc. Creative Directors are the ones who drive the direction of the project. The relevant creative concepts (2) ______________ (formulate) depending on whether it is an advertising campaign, brand identity, TV commercial or marketing campaign. Two decades ago a Creative Director (3) ______________ often ______________ (refer) to as the 'Ideas Guy'.

Ar t D i rector

Art Directors make sure that the work of illustrators and production artists (4) ______________ (complete) on time and to the creative director or client's satisfaction. Art Directors also play a major role in the development of a project by making decisions on the visual elements of the project. Advanced training in graphic design (5) ______________

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(require) as they often do artwork and designing themselves. However, an Art Director's time (6) ______________ (may/consume) on supervisory and administrative work.

B rand Ident i ty Deve loper

Brand Identity design (7) ______________ (concern) with the visual aspects of a company or organization's brand or identity. A brand identity design is the visual element that represents how a company wants to (8) ______________ (see); it (9) ______________ (can/present) through a unique logo or signage in order to (10) ______________ (integrate) in the company's business cards, stationery, packaging, media advertising etc. Brand identity development (11) ______________ always ______________ (regard) a collaborative effort between creative directors, art directors, copywriters, account managers and the client.

I l l u s t ra to r

Illustrators conceptualize and create illustrations that represent an idea or a story through two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. Their drawings (12) ______________ (use) for printed materials such as books, magazines and other publications or for commercial products such as textiles, packaging, wrapping paper, greeting cards, calendars, stationery etc.

Different media, from pencil and paint to digital formatting (13) ______________ (can/use). An illustrator consults with clients in order to determine the best way their story or message (14) ______________ ______________(can/communicate).

Illustrations ______________ also (15) ______________ (may/publish) separately as in fine art. However, they (16) ______________ usually ______________ (insert) into page layouts for communication design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design_occupations

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12. You are going to watch a Ted Talk video. Watch and listen carefully to answer the following questions.

a. What does Marian Bantjes do for a living?

b. Marian Bantjes says “Six years ago, ..., I changed the way I was working”.

• How did her approach change?

• What is she mostly interested in?

• What was the result of this change?

13. Now listen again and note down as many examples of Marian Bantjes' work as possible. Form groups and share your notes as well as your thoughts about her work. Finally, present your group's work in class

http://www.ted.com/talks/marian_bantjes_intricate_beauty_by_design/transcript#t-154340

group work

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14. You have seen a job advertisement for a Graphic Designer position and you decide to respond to it. Write a letter (140-180 words) applying for the post. Do not write any addresses. There are some notes to help you in the next page.

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Graphic DesignerGraphic Designer• Full time job must be responsible & reliable• Flexible hours good communication skills • Excellent working conditions pleasant personality• Extra perks sound knowledge in Arts and Technology

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Graphic Designer

Here are some notes to help you when applying for a post.

GreetingGreeting formal greetingDear Mr Brown,Dear Sir / Madam,

Yours sincerely,Your faithfully,Full name

Opening Opening paragraphparagraph

state the position you are applying for

state where & when you saw the advertisement

Main bodyMain body

age

qualifications & studies present / previous job / experience

explain why you are suitable for the job

Closing Closing paragraphparagraph

mention that you hope your application will be carefully considered

mention that you enclose a CV / reference letter

say you are available for an interview

Signing offSigning off formal signature

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15. Based on the information provided in this unit, form groups and:

a. make a list of the various specilisation areas in graphics and design (you can search the internet for more information on the subject). Then make a poster or a power point presentation to present them to your classmates. You may

use a web application for creating posters or videos if possible. You can also use a Venn Diagram like the one on the right to present their common areas and their differences,

or

b. make a poster or power point presentation to describe the specilisation areas in graphics and design you are most interested in. Study the spidergram below to get some ideas about the issues you need to include in your presentation.

16. Discuss the following issues.

a. Working as a freelance Graphic Designer versus being employed by a company. Which one would you prefer and why?

b. What job opportunities are there in the field of Graphic Design in Greece nowadays?

group work

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

skills and personal characteristics required

job outlook and occupations

working conditions and environment

education and training

responsibilities and duties

erences

b

rences,

b

class discussion

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